Gotthard will release the new album "Firebirth" on June 1st, 201 via Nuclear Blast/Warnermusic (in Switzerland Musikvertrieb). A total of 13 songs will be on the CD, among them one with the title “Where are You,” which is dedicated to Steve Lee. In the past few days, in the band-owned Yellow House Studios, music journalists from all over Europe were able to listen to the songs for the first time.

“GOTTHARD is recalling their roots,” is the opinion of the German magazine Rock Hard. “Earthy hard rock, heavy on riffs, with first class refrains and only a small amount of keyboards. A strong sign of life from the Swiss.”

And the Italian Rock Hard supplements: “GOTTHARD is going back to their roots and at the same time looking to the future. The entire album makes you tap your feet to the rhythm and your heart beat loudly.”

“We have remembered our roots and deliberately given the album the pure straightforward Gotthard sound. Our goal was to concentrate on the most important thing – the songs,” explained Leo Leoni, who produced the album together with Paul Lani.

The following press release was also issued about the artwork and upcoming tour dates:

"The album cover depicts the firebird Phoenix, which symbolically rises 'from the ashes to the sky' – this line expresses what each Gotthard fan feels and underlines the turbulent time that Gotthard has gone through in the past months. Everybody wanting to see the coverartwork as soon as possible has to proof some skills for that: from now on you can puzzle together the artwork here. As firebird Phoenix coming out of the ashes has surely been an event with a certain impact, this cover artwork cannot just be presented to you normally. More...

Gotthard is in the final stages of the production of the new album “Firebirth,” which will be released on June 1st by Nuclear Blast/Warner Music, and is the first album with Nic Maeder.

The album was produced in Yellow House Studios, owned by the band, in Lugano, Switzerland, by guitarist/songwriter Leo Leoni and Paul Lani, who has previously worked with Gotthard on earlier albums, (incl. “G-spot” and “Homerun”).

Leo Leoni comments: "We are delighted with the new album. Songwriting with Nic and Freddy was a real explosion of inspiration and new ideas! Regarding sound and production, we have returned to our roots and we deliberately produced it with a pure - and for Gotthard - typical sound. For us, FIREBIRTH is the comeback album with the rating: BACK TO BASIC !”

Marc Lynn adds, "Collaboration with Nic was unbelievable – it feels that we have known each other for ever and the euphoria in the band is now burning like a new fire. It is a true rebirth of the zest of 20 years ago, when the band took off “to conquer the world”. Producing this album with the new line-up was a real 'birth of fire' – we are very proud of our new baby.“ More...

Cleveland, Ohio metallers Breaker been confirmed for this year's edition of the Bang Your Head festival, set to take place July 13th - 14th, 2012 in Balingen, Germany.

Breaker will perform an exclusive European reunion show with original vocalist Jim Hamar to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the release of the landmark "Get Tough!" album on Auburn Records.

This will be Breaker's fifth visit to Germany and second to Bang Your Head. The band's only previous festival appearance in Germany with Hamar on vocals was at Wacken Open Air in 2000.Visit the Bang Your Head website for more information.

The organisers of Belgium's largest heavy metal festival, Graspop Metal Meeting, have announced that American rock legends Guns N Roses will be wrapping the festival up this year, as they will be headlining the event on Sunday 24th. The organisers have also announced that As I Lay Dying has had to pull out of the festival after cancelling their European tour, but also confirmed that Cannibal Corpse, Machine Head, Gotthard, Adrenaline Mob, Sebastian Bach, Black Veil Brides and The Treatment will perform at the festival. Graspop Metal Meeting will take place in Dessel, Belgium from June 22nd - 24th and will feature the following lineup, with more to be announced shortly:

Nuclear Blast has issued the following announcement about offering a sampler for free download online:

"Nuclear Blast says thank you, for an awesome year to their fans and friends, by offering a free download compilation, exclusively on our Facebook page. Surf to this location and like the page and get the free sampler! Have a merry and rocking Christmas and an ass-kicking 2012!"

Gotthard has issued the following announcement about recruiting a new vocalist:

"Dear GOTTHARD Fans – it gives us great pleasure to announce that we have found a new singer. The successor to Steve Lee, who was killed in a tragic accident last year, is Nic Maeder and is Swiss-born.

"We therefore decided to produce a song plus video as a thank you to our fans, which can be downloaded free of charge. It is dedicated to all our Fans who didn’t lose their faith and trust in GOTTHARD."

“Remember it’s me” can be downloaded free at this location, and you can check out the video below. More...

Gotthard has announced the release of a new live album titled “Homegrown – Alive In Lugano“ on the 30th of September. On the 2nd of September, a previously unreleased track entitled ”The Train” with Steve Lee on vocals will be published online.

“Homegrown – Alive In Lugano“ contains a live recording of the band's concert on the 17th of July 2010 in Lugano. The show was one of the last concerts with vocalist Steve Lee, who tragically died during a motorbike trip through the U.S. on October 5th, 2010. Due to the sudden accidental death of Steve Lee, the CD's release was postponed.

“Lugano was where it all began and so the circle is closed of all that we've experienced with our friend Steve Lee,“ comments bassist Marc Lynn. “The memories of the past 20 years on stage with Steve are brought again to life intensively with this album. They reflect the memorable times that we were able to enjoy on the Mount Olympus of Rock'n'Roll.“

The concert in Lugano took place during the local HOG Rally, an annual event organized by Harley Davidson bikers. “Steve was warmer and more cheerful than he had been in a long time,“ guitarist Freddy Scherer remembers. “The chemistry between him and the audience couldn't have been more intense, despite the fact that there were more than 20,000 people standing on the piazza. It is a stroke of good luck that we recorded this memorable concert, for unfortunately it was one of the last ones with Steve.“

“Music has allowed us to travel round the whole world together during the last 20 years,“ guitarist Leo Leoni added. “In doing so, we've shared lots of unforgettable moments that rank among the best times of our lives. Anyhow, returning to Lugano has always been something special. It's the place we belong to and where we have strong and deep roots.” More...

Swiss hard rock veterans Gotthard have announced that they plan on continuing the band, following the tragic death of Steve Lee. A statement posted online states:

"After the tragic accident of our friend and singer Steve Lee, who died October, 5 2010 in the USA, we withdrew ourselves until after the new year and took a break. Now we are back again with plans for the future and a difficult task to fulfill. After the very emotional days after Steve's death, it was important for us to first of all try and cope with the pain, give it a place to rest and find ourselves again. And so we sat down in the new year and tried to look at the new situation 'soberly.' It was obvious to all of us very quickly that we had to go on — Gotthard is not a job for us, Gotthard IS OUR LIFE!!

"Of course it can only go on if we are lucky to find the right guy. We're not only searching for a voice which can bring our songs alive again…. we are looking much more for a singer who also humanly fits with us — with the Gotthard family! For all of us it's a big challenge and it will not be easy at all. But we have good faith and we do what we do best — make music!

"A big thank you to all the fans. Your concern, cards, e-mails and entries in the guestbook have given us the supporting power to deal with what has happened better and to gather new courage for the future."

"On Sunday, January 16th, Ex Libris Business Manager Daniel Röthlin and Gotthard Bassist Marc Lynn handed over a check of CHF 75'000 to the Roadcross Foundation at the Kaufleuten in Zürich. The amount of the donation is yielded from the quantity of Gotthard records sold at all Ex Libris stores between October 5th and December 31st 2010.

"2 CHF per sold Gotthard CD was added to the donation and given to the non-profit Roadcross Foundation. This Steve Lee Memorial action is supported by Gotthard as well as by Musikvertrieb AG who will both also additionally round off the donation. Roadcross expresses their thanks to all those who made this generous donation possible, a very much welcome and needed help and contribution to victims of road accidents.

"The decision to make a donation to a organization dealing with accident prevention and handling was taken, without going public by Gotthard and the Business Management of Ex Libris, only a few days after Steve Lees tragic accident. Many thanks to all the fans who contributed to this action."

Broken Melody has posted an acoustic version of "Another Star" in tribute to Steve Lee of Gotthard, who died in a motorcycle crash in 2010. You can check out the video below, and the band also commented:

"This song is a tribute we made for Steve Lee of Gotthard. We want to say thank you to the band 'cause in part, if Broken Melody today exists, it's merit of Gotthard's songs. This is our tribute to one of the greatest hard rock voices of all time. R.I.P. Steve Lee."

Swiss hard rock act Gotthard, who recently suffered the loss of vocalist Steve Lee to a traffic accident, has announced details surrounding its forthcoming compilation album. The new collection, titled "Heaven - Best Of Ballads Part 2," is set for release on November 26th, 2010 through Nuclear Blast Recods.

Bassist Marc Lynn commented by saying:

"Nobody's really in the mood for a driving rock song at the moment. This ballad compilation might also help our fans to cope with their sadness and grief."

Drummer Hena Habegger added:

"We lost not only one of the best rock voices of the world, we also lost a really exceptional person, friend, brother and musician. Despite his tremendous success, Steve Lee always had his feet on the ground and never lost his sensitivity for the environment."

Here is the "Heaven - Best Of Ballads Part 2" tracklisting:1. Heaven2. What Am I *3. Where Is Love When It's Gone4. Need To Believe5. One Life One Soul6. The Call7. Don't Let Me Down8. Nothing Left At All9. Unconditional Faith10. Have A Little Faith **11. Tears To Cry12. Everything I Want13. I've Seen An Angel Cry14. Tomorrow's Just Begun15. Falling ***16. And Then Goodbye17. Merry Christmas

A public memorial has been announced for Gotthard singer Steve Lee, who was killed in a motorcycle accident. The memorial will be held in Switzerland on October 17 at the Gotthard Pass Hospice. A eulogy will also be given by two Capucine monks.

Swiss hard rock/heavy metallers Krokus have issued the following statement in regards to the passing of Gotthard vocalist Steve Lee.

Krokus commented by saying:

"Krokus and management would like to extend our sincere condolences to Steve Lee's family as well as to the band Gotthard.

"Chris Von Rohr produced many of the Gotthard albums during his hiatus from Krokus and helped them gain 'platinum' award status multiple times.

"Marc Storace recorded a Queen medley with Steve many years ago for one of the most popular Swiss TV shows. 'Steve was a kind and friendly person to be or work with. He left us too early, but his remarkable voice will live on in the songs he so passionately sang. Rest in peace, Marc.'

"Jan Bayati of German management company Bottom Row Productions not only manages Krokus but also managed Gotthard from 1996 through 2002 and since June of this year again. Representing both bands, Mr. Bayati wishes Steve's family strength in this difficult time. 'I still can't believe it, what a tragedy.'"

Steve Lee, the lead vocalist of Swiss hard rock band Gotthard, was tragically killed yesterday after being involved in a motorcycle crash. He was only 47 years old. The singer had flown to the U.S. with some biker friends just this weekend to fulfil a long-cherished dream for which he'd never had the time due to his heavy touring schedule for many years. It was to be two weeks through the States on a Harley-Davidson.

The 21 Swiss bikers started their journey on Sunday on a total of 12 motorcycles. On Tuesday, October 5, about 50 miles from Las Vegas, the group had stopped at the roadside to put on their rain gear as it had started to rain. On the slippery road, the trailer of a passing truck began to skid. The driver attempted evasive action but his trailer clipped five of the motorcycles parked at the roadside; one of them hit Steve Lee. Rescue services attempted resuscitation but efforts were stopped after 20 minutes. At 16:13 local time, Steve Lee was pronounced dead.

San Francisco thrash metal pioneers Death Angel have been confirmed as the latest addition to a stellar Magic Circle Festival lineup. The Magic Circle Festival will be held in Bad Arolsen/Germany from July 9 to 12, 2008. Death Angel will be performing as a special guest at the MCF Events Hall on Thursday, July 10th.

Archer has performed with some of the biggest names in rock including, Heaven and Hell, Heart and Sevendust. The band is looking forward to sharing the stage at the Sweden Rock Festival (www.swedenrock.com) this summer alongside such metal giants as Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Poison, RATT, Triumph, Saxon, Disturbed and many more as they return to Europe.

The Santa Cruz, CA-based power trio, who won "Best Local Band 2008" in the Metro Santa Cruz Goldies Awards, takes the stage on Saturday, June 7th, opening for some of the biggest names in the metal music genre. The Sweden Rock Festival is held in Norjeboke, in the tiny village of Norje which is situated in Sölvesborg in the western part of southern Sweden.

Archer’s debut album "Doom$day Profit$" is a "genuine tour-de-force, rich with powerful songs imbued with that essential combination of brain-burrowing melodies, ripping riffs, pulsing basslines, tsunami drums and grab-by-the-throat vocals." The band cites influences that include Ozzy and Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica and other legendary names.

Here is the current lineup for the Sweden Rock Fest 2008, which takes place June 4th - 7th: More...